| AP News:less turnout in Vizag MCH elections |
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The low voter turnout in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation election on Monday came as a surprise to many. It being a municipal election and local factors playing some important role and a good number of independents in fray, the polling percentage was expected to be high. Though the final figure was not available till late in the evening, it was expected to be around 50 per cent and could even be lower.
The Congress pitching for a successive third term by winning the civic poll and the first after formation of the GVMC, however, is interpreting it as favourable to it. The percentage was low because the middle, upper middle class, and the educated and employees did not show any interest but in slums the voting was good, said a prominent Congress leader.
A high voting percentage, he interpreted, was a sign of opposition to the ruling dispensation as voter would be intent on taking out his anger. He cited the modest turn out in the Visakhapatnam-I by election last year and the Congress victory. The BJP, on the other hand, sees it as indifference of the educated towards voting. "They apparently are more interested in enjoying the holiday than participating in the democratic process and it's very sad," said a BJP leader. Those in the slums had more faith in the process, he said, adding that the tenacity with which they stood their ground protesting against denial of vote at Pedajalaripeta was an indication of it. A low voting percentage meant that those who had offered inducements or got votes polled enjoyed an edge because a small margin would ensure victory, he said.             |